Get social on your wedding day and save the cost of a photographer

With a war-cry of “Do it yourself!” a sizeable number of brides turn to the Internet to make their shopping and wedding inspiration decisions. According to MarketResearch.com, “approximately 64 percent of brides use Pinterest to find inspiration, and many couples plan their weddings through apps and mobile devices.” With the rise of the sharing economy, more brides and bridesmaids are comfortable with DIY alternatives than paying for professional services. Here are some ways to get great and memorable photos on your big day without spending on a professional. What you lose in polish you just might make up for in spontaneity.

“If you’re trying to cut costs, you can always ask a friend to take pictures”, says wedding planner Stacie Baines. Because smartphones already offer filters and editing software, pictures still come out beautiful. Many budget-savvy brides recruit a friend or two to cover the pictures on their iPhone and smartphones without spending a dime, said Baines. If you want physical copies of your pictures, you can always go to your local Target, Walmart or Walgreens to print. Or, if you want to print a bulkier look to hang in your home, you can always print your wedding pictures to beautiful wall canvases with Shutterfly.

Facebook Live

Live is the best way to interact with viewers in real time. You can check out their Live Reactions to gauge how your broadcast is going too! For example, a member attending your wedding can Live stream your wedding day right to Facebook where anyone who couldn’t attend and friends in general can see it! They can leave real-time comments and if you ask them to- might be prompted to share your video. Facebook Live Tip: Build anticipation by letting your audience know when you’ll be going live with a written post. We’ve found one day’s notice gives people the right amount of time to tune in.

Make a Personal Hashtag

Have you ever seen personal and catchy hashtags like #DavisPartyofTwo or #MarissaMarriesMark? These are two examples of using a personal hashtag. The best part is that these hashtags catch on and all of your friends and family – regardless of social media channel – can use it. The more the tag is used by your guests, the more publicity your wedding gets on social media said Baines. “In fact, you can tell guests who couldn’t attend to catch up on your wedding photos by searching for the hashtag on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!”

“If you absolutely have to cut a wedding photographer from your wedding budget, then I suggest creating a DIY photo booth,” says Peachy Keen’s wedding planner, Victoria Baggett. “You can stage your own photos the way you want and it’s super simple. Set up a camera on a tripod, get a backdrop on the wall back wall and bring your own props. Have your guests grab the controller, and take the picture when they’re ready.”

If going social isn’t necessarily what you want to do on your big day, you can always hire a professional photographer and videographer. It’s totally up to you! If you’ve done what you can with negotiating wedding costs and you still find yourself with a gap between budget and price tag, check out how a LendingPoint personal loan can help with your plans. We’ll quickly tell you how much you qualify for, and you can choose the loan option that suits you best. Applying is simple and easy. Your loan could be deposited in your account in as little as one business day. Apply now and see!